Elizabethtown College is well known for its Engineering Department due to its rigor and acknowledgment, especially in recent years as the department has continued to grow alongside the growth of the College over time. One of the said acknowledgments was from the American Society for Engineering Education’s (ASEE) Diversity Recognition Program, from whom the College gained bronze-level recognition for leading in inclusivity and was one of nine institutions to receive such an honor. In the year 2022-2023, it was recognized as a college of distinction in the area of engineering. Students in the major can even get involved in several concentrations including electrical, environmental, industrial and systems, mechanical, biomedical, civil, mechatronics and computer engineering.
One exciting addition to the department happening this year is becoming involved with the Kern Entrepreneurial Engineering Network (KEEN), which was founded in 2005 and strives to work with undergraduate engineering programs. Currently, it works with more than 50 institutions in the country. Furthermore, it hopes to create students with an entrepreneurial mindset. An entrepreneurial mindset allows for students to seek out opportunities, have an impact on their community and create value in the environment they work in. That mindset also stresses the three Cs that have benefited students, faculty and industry involved with KEEN including having a constant curiosity, connecting information from a variety of sources and creating value from unexpected situations and even failures.
First-year engineering student at Etown Sam Senkowicz said, “[KEEN] looks like a good addition to the engineering program.”
Additionally, as seen on the website about the partnerships between the two groups, Etown President Betty Rider commented on the College joining KEEN. “Elizabethtown College’s engineering program is nationally ranked among its peers for its robust undergraduate education,” she said. “Grounded in a 122-year tradition of learning to think critically, analyze deeply and communicate effectively, Elizabethtown fosters creativity and innovation in our engineering students so they are equipped to identify problems and search for sustainable solutions that strengthen our communities. With a deep commitment to combining hands-on learning with real-world experience, becoming a KEEN Partner will enhance our ability to develop graduates who ‘engineer for society’ to address and make powerful impacts on the greatest issues facing our world in the 21st century and beyond.”
The Dean of the School of Engineering, Math and Computer Science Atwood has already become involved in implementing the program at the College by attending this year’s KEEN conference. The conference hosts hundreds of faculties from around the nation to engage with keynote speakers and interactive workshops. This year’s convention stresses the importance of connections, which should be useful in engaging with others of differing opinions and broadening one’s thinking to see divergent ways of problem-solving. Furthermore, she contributes to their literature on the topics within her field and the education world.
With the introduction of KEEN comes an additional chance for engineering students to better themselves and become more well-rounded individuals. Even for past engineering students, the College interacting with more organizations like KEEN allows them to get their name promoted, allowing for further connections and opportunities.
